Reviewer:
Spuzz
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April 26, 2006
Subject:
Its a pleasure to be here
Trailer for what looks to be a spectacular movie about the Chicago Fire! This trailer opens up with the premiere of the film, oodles of celebrities come out. Everyone from Douglas Fairbanks to June Lange to Douglas Fairbanks come out and speak on the mike (you know what I mean) and to see the movie. And what a movie it is! I like what this movie looks like, it looks rough and tumble (as far as the sets go), but the stars look squeaky clean! And the fire itself sure looks awesome! Wow! I sort of want to see this now!
Reviewer:
berberry
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September 28, 2004
Subject:
One of the best disaster films, good trailer
I like this trailer. The film, which is 80% or so classic Hollywood soap opera, fictionalizes the famous Chicago fire of 1871. The story was taken from a novel by Niven Bush (who also wrote the novel on which the classic camp western 'Duel In The Sun' was based). It delves into the lives of Mrs. O'Leary, her good son, played by Don Ameche, her bad son, played by Tyrone Power and, of course, Mrs. O'Leary's incautious cow, played by MGM's cow. By the time the cow finally tips over the lantern, 3/4 of the picture is over. But it isn't time completely wasted; there are some exciting fights, riots, barroom brawls and such along the way.
Once the fire starts the film becomes extremely compelling. The special effects are unbelievably good for such an old film.
There are at least three films from the 30s I can think of that featured unusually good special effects. This is one, the others are 'Hurricane' and 'San Francisco'. I believe it was the success of the latter that led to the production of this movie.
The melodramatic background of the other two films is much better than here, but the set pieces and the special effects make this a must-see nonetheless. The trailer does an excellent job of conveying the essence of the film.